Approximately 7,000 people will benefit from the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Penang government and Food Aid Foundation in Komtar, Penang today.

The initiative, named Mutiara Food Bank, recovers food meant for disposal and instead gives it to those in need. 

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution (photo), who spearheads the project, explained that the food is mostly donated by hypermarkets and restaurants to the poor.

"If not donated, the food will end up in a landfill, especially food from hotels," Saifuddin said at a press conference in Komtar today.

He said the food would be donated to poor school children, senior citizens and other groups in need. 

"The participating vendors are nine Tesco outlets, restaurants and hotels in Penang," Saifuddin said in the presence of eight chefs from the Penang Chef Association, who also attended the event.

The project is part of the state's i-Sejahtera and Agenda Ekonomi Saksama (AES) programme to eradicate poverty in the state. 

State executive councillor Phee Boon Poh will oversee the project as it falls under his welfare portfolio.  

Saifuddin said that state assemblypersons, volunteers, village development and security committees and mosque committees of each area would provide the names of those who are in need of food aid.

"We also extend the aid to migrants, refugees and Orang Asli communities (that might need it)," he added.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state has spent RM23,215,968 on the AES programme since 2009 and RM412.63 million on i-Sejahtera.

Lim said the new initiative reached 5,000 people since its launch in May.

He also thanked Food Aid Foundation representatives Rick Chee and Haryati Ismail for training and guiding the Mutiara effort to provide food house-to-house to the poor and needy.

"I am made to understand that the Food Aid Foundation, Penang Chef Association and Mutiara Food Bank were among the first to help the flood victims," Lim said, referring to the flood disaster of Nov 4 and 5 which displaced thousands and killed seven in the state.